The war puppies of Anbar

NCT:

When Marines in Border Transition Team 1/5/2 returned from deployment in Iraq on Saturday morning, something very special was waiting for them. View A Video

Seven Iraqi puppies, raised by the Marines, were reunited with their owners at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas.

Except for the cameras, the crowd that had gathered could have been any group of dog lovers.

The seven white puppies ran around on the grass, chewed treats (and sometimes leashes) and generally acted like puppies.

The petting and hugs were extra meaningful to the Marines, who, having been back in the U.S. for less than 12 hours, had been waiting weeks to be reunited with their dogs.

The story started at a combat outpost on the Syrian border, where the team was training Iraqi border police.

A female dog that visited the camp looking for food delivered a litter of eight puppies. After one starved to death, it was clear that the mother couldn't care for the puppies, and the Marines took charge of raising them.

The puppies are now just over 6 months old.

"Immediately after they were born, we knew we'd have to take them back to the states," said Marine Capt. Jamisen Fox, who is adopting Kirby and Princess from the litter. "Leaving them there wasn't an option."

"They definitely helped us out while we were out there," said 1st Lt. Nathan Nielson, who is going home with Gus, the puppy he says he was drawn to.

"I think we definitely had a chance to bond, especially under the circumstances," he said.

...

This is probably one of the first wars without any war brides, but puppies and dogs appear to be attached to the Marines of Anbar. The Marines are probably the best thing that ever happened to them.

They are really cute pups. You can see them in a video at the above link.

If you missed it, this is the link for Maj. Brian Dennis's reunion with Nubs. Maj. Dennis had saved the dogs life and the dog then traveled about 70 miles to see him again.